SURPRISE, AZ — A Surprise man has been arrested after allegedly destroying a neighbor's mailbox with a machete and assaulting a family member with a brick.
Surprise police report that on February 22, they responded to a neighborhood near Dysart and Bell roads after getting word that a man destroyed a mailbox with a machete.
When police arrived, they reportedly saw the mailbox removed from its post due to the damage. They also allegedly saw Craig Parrish Posselli, 51, get off his bicycle and enter his backyard holding a machete.
While in the home, Posselli threw bricks at a family member, police say. The victim was able to block the bricks with his hands before exiting the house. The victim reported to police that Posselli was "coming off of something," and acting "delusional."
At one-point, Posselli entered a vehicle and tried to leave. Police say they fired pepper balls into the car to stop Posselli, who was soon arrested.
Inside the home, police say he did about $1,000 in damage with the machete. Police also smelled a strong odor of gas in the house and saw that Posselli allegedly opened all the burners on the gas stove, and the oven door was open.
Court records show that the home had to be ventilated before it was safe for people to re-enter.
Posselli has been charged with aggravated assault, criminal damage, and disorderly conduct.
